Prologue
Before Sakura's parents even think of having a child, her mother, Mebuki, finds out that Kizashi is cheating on her. She decided to divorce him, but he was the household's source of income. Mebuki grew up as a servant to a noble clan so she was taught to be a proper woman, allowing the men in her life to take charge and do as they please. Likewise to her former job, she did housework such as cooking and cleaning. Once she steps out of the marriage, she will not have any money of her own. However, she believes that marriage should be enforced through love and loyalty. She deserves to be treated with the same respect that she gave her husband-soon-ex. Following that thought, she signs the contract setting her free from the relationship.
Weeks later, Mebuki goes to the doctor. She was feeling weak and vomiting in the mornings. She prayed to kami that it was not what she was thinking. After her divorce, she became a yūjo in order to survive. She had to perform . . . actions that required not carrying a child. And to top it all off, she vowed to never have unprotected sex unless she was married. While waiting in the silent room, she sees a poster of a smiling child. It leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.
When Mebuki arrives back home, she screams and cries. Lightning strikes in the distance, morphing her face into a wrathful demon. She does not want a damned child by her no-good ex-husband. She went ahead in her life with the full intention of never seeing nor hearing from him again. He decided to stay with that other girl, whom she cannot bring herself to blame. After all, it is hard for a regular woman to make it in these times, and she will soon entertain "committed" men as well. But Mebuki has to inform the man of the child; hopefully he will take the baby in while she provides for only herself.
Kizashi shouts at her to "leave him out of her fucking business!" Mebuki begs and begs and begs, even kneeling to show how desperate she wants him to take her baby. But he does not give; he throws a lamp at her and threatens that it will be a knife if she is there when he returns from the kitchen. Mebuki sprints away from his luxurious home in fear. In dire need of help, she assumes that her boss knows where she can get rid of the child and returns to the red light district. Her boss suggests not an abortion, but a different – "higher-paying," he coerces – sector. The men who come for this special act are very particular about what they want. They can be pushy, but they know the limits of a pregnant body. Mebuki agrees, because there is no way she can survive off of the meager pay of a brothel girl.
Finally, after eight hellish months of prostituting with a being inside her, Mebuki's water breaks. She is rushed into the civilian hospital by her coworkers without clients. It is all a blur as she flies down the hall; the lights a blinding white, the walls a dull beige, and nurses surrounding her. Mebuki feels agony during the contractions, all due to that tiny baby. Who knew that such a small creature could cause so much pain? Inwardly, she curses her ex-husband as he manages to hurt her even after their break up. Following hours of pushing and waiting, the child is born on March 28th, 97 YAF. Mebuki looks out the window; a Sakura tree is in full bloom.
1. A yūjo, literally meaning a "woman of pleasure", was a prostitute during the Edo era of Japan. They were restricted to the outskirts of a city and were only allowed outside the city for visiting dying relatives and hanami, the Japanese custom of viewing cherry blossoms.
2. The owner of the brothel is basically the same age as Mebuki.
3. YAF stands for years after founding, in reference to Konoha. I believe this term was used before in another fanfiction so no credit to me.
Thank you to those whom are reading this story. A word of advice: this story is meant to be based off of historical background, implied relationships, and themes. I write with the intention of portraying all of the characters with as much depth as possible. It is better to read it and figure out the hidden meanings through the thoughts of characters and their interactions. The notes are sometimes important and sometimes just an explanation. I encourage you to comment if you suspect an implication, but DO NOT SPOIL IT.